Love this trend!

I've been doing the fashion show thing this week, along with every other beauty and fashion editor in New York. Some interesting trends: There was none of last season's dark lip/dark eye combo, just an emphasis on strong eyes or strong lips worn with clean skin and no other color. I've also seen some pretty blue eye shadow (yes, I said "blue" and "pretty" in the same sentence!). Lots of flesh-tone lips, too. Lucky me, I got to trail Bianca Alexander, one of the top M.A.C pro makeup artists, at the Badgley Mischka show. Generally, the makeup at the show was—as the lead makeup artist, Tom Pecheux, described— "a mix between casual and sophisticated," which translated into taupey eyeshadow, pale matte skin and nude lips, pumped up with major black eyeliner worn winged. As I sat with Bianca and saw how easy the liner looked, I was inspired to try it on the spot. Here's what I figured out to do: 1) Use a slanted or tapered liner brush. 2) Dip into liquid black liner and roll the brush around so that you cover all sides (so no matter how you maneuver it on your eye, you'll lay down

I've been doing the fashion show thing this week, along with every other beauty and fashion editor in New York. Some interesting trends: There was none of last season's dark lip/dark eye combo, just an emphasis on strong eyes or strong lips worn with clean skin and no other color. I've also seen some pretty blue eye shadow (yes, I said "blue" and "pretty" in the same sentence!). Lots of flesh-tone lips, too. Lucky me, I got to trail Bianca Alexander, one of the top M.A.C pro makeup artists, at the Badgley Mischka show. Generally, the makeup at the show was—as the lead makeup artist, Tom Pecheux, described— "a mix between casual and sophisticated," which translated into taupey eyeshadow, pale matte skin and nude lips, pumped up with major black eyeliner worn winged. As I sat with Bianca and saw how easy the liner looked, I was inspired to try it on the spot. Here's what I figured out to do:

Use a slanted or tapered liner brush.

Dip into liquid black liner and roll the brush around so that you cover all sides (so no matter how you maneuver it on your eye, you'll lay down liquid). Tap off excess on your hand or tissue.

Start at the inside corner of the eye and move outward, as if you were connecting imaginary dots across your lashline. I found stretching my eye out a bit helped the liner go on more evenly.

To make the wing, you need to open your eyes and draw upward, no further then the end of your brows. Think of it as an imaginary extension to your bottom lash line. Better to try this before you put on any other makeup (hence, the blotchiness of my skin above!) so that in case you need a redo, it's no big deal. It really worked—after I did it, I got stopped three times with love-your-liner compliments! And then I had to fight off all the backstage photographers who were trying to snap my picture (just kidding)…